Coastal Meanderings Firth of Thames

Coastal Wanderings

This is a 2 day ride which can be split. Members can do the first day or the second day as a single day trip or the whole lot according to taste.

Day 1: Miranda to Thames 55km trail. The idea is to drive to Thames first thing on Thursday, catch a shuttle back to Miranda at 10am and then spend the rest of the day cycling back to the cars at Thames. This is all Grade one, Hauraki Rail Trail and involves a mixture of concrete and gravel riding. Virtually no hills however I would recommend off road tyres as dependant on recent weather track can get a little soggy in places. For a full description I would visit
https://haurakirailtrail.co.nz/choose-your-ride/kaiaua-to-thames.

Note that this trail has undergone extensive renovation recently so may be quite different to the last time you rode it. There is an issue with it at present which means 650m of road riding.

Lunch is available at a café along the way and the shuttle costs 62.50 per rider for 4 bikes but will drop considerably if we have any more.
Meeting point is Jolly Bikes at 96 Richmond Street Thames Thursday 10am.

After getting back to Thames and a little refreshment then what you do after that is optional. Only fixed rule is that if you are doing Day 2 below than you need to be at Colville by say 11.30 am on Friday. Colville is 30km up the road from Coromandel on a sealed road.

Personally having stayed in Thames already I am going to move base 54k up the road to Coromandel, have dinner and sleep over at the Tasman Holiday park. Accommodation is very much your own issue but a group dinner would be a nice idea.

Day 2: Is a 30 -38km ride from Fletcher Bay at tip of Coromandel Peninsula back to Colville via the coast gravel road. This involves some hills so may be challenging to those without an electric motor.

Further information and photos may be gained from: https://www.hikeandbike.co.nz/port-jackson-shuttle

Key information is:
Shuttle Departs 11.45am 76 Wharf Road, Colville and costs $75pp. Secure Parking is available. Expected arrival back in Colville is 4-6pm. Shuttle numbers are limited to 10 riders only so we will take first 10 to answer. Given we are likely to book out the shuttle then they will depart at an earlier time if desired.

After which it is coffee time and off home.

If you are interested please join the ride BUT in the comments advise whether you are intending to do both or just one day. Reason being is we will need to book shuttles. Alternatively please contact me on 021 348 979 to advise. As normal then:

• Please bring a spare tube for your particular bike wheel size.
  - If the weather is downright awful we will postpone.
• We travel at circa 20ks an hour except for down hills.
• We have a tail end Charlie to make sure riders do not get lost. We are not too fond of leaving people behind.
• Assistance will be rendered for any mechanical issues but we are not bike mechanics.
• If you are signed up for the ride but change your mind at the last minute please text or phone me on 021 348 979 to advise. Same if you are running late. We may not be able to hold the shuttles.